As a Chingford resident, I can attest that this north east London suburb doesn’t have the most inspiring food scene – but that’s all changed with the arrival of Gina. It was opened in the summer of 2025 by husband and wife team Ravneet Gill and Mattie Taian, after months of renovations, setbacks and test recipes. I know this because the journey to its completion was shared candidly on @ravneeteats’ Instagram.
What they’ve done at Gina has truly put Epping Forest on the gastronomic map
Collectively, the couple have spent over 15 years working in London’s most acclaimed kitchens (St John, The Camberwell Arms and Black Axe Mangal to name a few), but Ravneet is probably best known for her time judging on Junior Bake Off.
All this acclaim could easily set up an almighty disappointment, or simply too much pressure to deliver: but what they’ve done at Gina has truly put Epping Forest on the gastronomic map. The restaurant’s chic exterior looks almost out of place on the parochial high street, but inside it has an air of familiarity and warmth. On my visit, the sun was shining and the bifold door wafted a pleasant stream of woodland air through to its guests. A beaming member of staff in a lovely lavender embroidered chore coat took us to our table and presented me with an uncomplicated but mouthwatering menu.
We started with sweet monkfish cooked with bacon and oak leaf, as well as beetroot served in a pool of its horror movie-worthy juices, swirled with crunchy pistachio butter and deeply refreshing mint. This was light enough for me to take on the daily special of Highland beef rump and café de Paris butter, mopped up with triple cooked chips, and cooked so rare (upon my blood-thirsty request) that it was basically still mooing. Fabulously good. I left room for a few forkfulls of ‘Gina’s Pasta’, which was simply a damn good plate of spaghetti in a rich and comforting marinara sauce.
Before we’d even looked at the dessert menu, I’d committed to Gina’s chocolate cake on the advice of friends who’d already visited. A light but indulgent sponge, swimming in chocolate sauce: with a perfect sphere of vanilla ice cream perched on top and a little jug of cream on the side. It’s a naughty little pud and it absolutely slaps of pleasure. We also ordered the pecan tart to ‘try’ and the buttery and light pastry forced us to finish the lot.
We rolled out joyfully full and convinced Gina’s is far more than a celebrity chef’s pipedream: it’s already a local landmark.
The vibe: Somewhere between an authentic Italian and modern British bistro.
The food: A kind-of chophouse, serving fresh local fish and proper puddings – all with a hearty, home-cooked feel.
The drink: A considered wine list alongside two signature cocktails – Gina’s Martini (£12) and a Margarita Cremisi (£14)
Time Out tip: Make your journey to the Essex-border on a Sunday for slow-braised lamb and then head up to Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge to walk off the dauphinoise.